Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to reopen grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports in a deal that United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said would help ease the global food crisis.
Russian and Ukrainian government ministers signed the agreement separately, carefully avoiding sitting at the same table and shaking hands at the event in Istanbul.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Ukraine by Minister of Infrastructure Plexandar Kubrakov, and on behalf of Russia by Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu.
"Today there is a beacon on the Black Sea. A beacon of hope (and) opportunity ... and relief in a world that needs it more than ever," Guterres said at the signing ceremony, urging Russia and Ukraine to fully implement the agreement.
Erdogan said the agreement, also signed by Turkey, would help prevent hunger and ease global food inflation.
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